Drill stand

ABSTRACT

A drill stand comprises a base, a mast defining a longitudinal axis and pivotably coupled to the base, a support bracket moveably coupled to the mast and pivotably coupled to the base, and a carriage moveably coupled to the mast. The carriage is configured to selectively receive a drill and is selectively removable from the mast in a tool-free manner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/390,361 filed on Apr. 22, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.10,821,525, which claims foreign priority to Chinese Utility ModelApplication No. 201820589494.5 filed on Apr. 24, 2018, the entirecontent of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to stands, and more particularly to drillstands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Larger drills, such as core drills, require stands upon which they canbe mounted. The stands can often be mounted against a horizontalsurface, such as the ground, or a vertical wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, in one aspect, a drill stand comprisinga base, a mast defining a longitudinal axis and pivotably coupled to thebase, a support bracket moveably coupled to the mast and pivotablycoupled to the base, and a carriage moveably coupled to the mast. Thecarriage is configured to selectively receive a drill and is selectivelyremovable from the mast in a tool-free manner.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent byconsideration of the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drill stand with a core drill and abattery attached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drill stand of FIG. 1 with the coredrill and the battery removed.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the drill stand of FIG. 1 with thecore drill and the battery removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drill stand of FIG. 1 with the coredrill, the battery, and a carriage removed.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the drill stand of FIG. 1 shown in acollapsed configuration.

FIG. 5B is a plan view of the drill stand of FIG. 1 shown in analternative collapsed configuration.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the drill stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a spindle assembly in the carriage of thedrill stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the spindle assembly of FIG. 7.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a drill stand 10 including a base 14 for mountingon a mounting surface 16 that can be vertical (e.g. a wall) orhorizontal (e.g. the ground, as shown in FIG. 1). The drill stand 10also includes a mast 18 for supporting a carriage 22, and a supportbracket 26 moveably coupled to the mast 18 and the base 14. The mast 18defines a longitudinal axis 30 and is pivotably coupled to the base 14to pivot about a pivot joint 34. The carriage 22 is moveably coupled tothe mast 18 and is configured to carry a core drill 36, as described infurther detail below.

The support bracket 26 is moveably coupled to the mast 18 via atool-free clamping mechanism 38 that selectively locks the supportbracket 26 to the mast 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the clamping mechanism 38includes a pair of clamping arms 42 positioned on respective rails 46 onthe mast 18. The rails 46 are parallel to the longitudinal axis 30 ofthe mast 18. A handle 50 can be rotated to tighten the clamping arms 42into the rails 46. Specifically, a bolt 51 is coupled for rotation withthe handle 50. The bolt 51 extends through and is rotatable relative toboth clamping arms arms 42 and a pair of brackets 53 that supportclamping arms 42. Thus, when the handle 50 is rotated in tighteningdirection with respect to arms 42 (and brackets 53), the bolt 51 rotatesand forces the handle-side bracket 53 to move towards thenon-handle-side bracket 53, thus forcing the clamping arms 42 into therails 46, causing the support bracket 26 to be locked with respect tothe mast 18.

Alternatively, the handle 50 can by rotated in an opposite, looseningdirection, which causes the bolt 51 to rotate and allow the handle-sidebracket 53 to move away from the non-handle side bracket 5. In response,the clamping arms 42 naturally deflect outward away from rails 46,thereby allowing the support bracket 26 to move along the mast 18 viathe arms 42 sliding within the rails 46. When the support bracket 26 islocked with respect to the mast 14, an operator may grasp the supportbracket 26 to carry the drill stand 10. The base 14 also includes a pairof handles 52 on opposite sides of the base 14 that permit the operatorto carry the drill stand 10.

When the clamping arms 42 are loosened with respect to the rails 46, themast 18 and support bracket 22 are collapsible relative to the base 14,as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, as themast 18 pivots about pivot joint 34 toward support bracket 26, thesupport bracket 26 also pivots about a pivot joint 54 while the clampingarms 42 slide along the rails 46 of the mast 18 away from pivot joint34. An angle α is defined between the mast 18 in its collapsed positionand the mast 18 in its original position shown in FIG. 4 and shown inphantom in FIG. 5A. In the collapsed position, an angle β is definedbetween the mast 18 and the mounting surface 16. An angle θ is definedbetween the support bracket 26 in its collapsed position and the supportbracket 26 in its original position shown in FIG. 4 and shown in phantomin FIG. 5A. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5A, α is 83 degrees, βis 7 degrees, and θ is 109 degrees. However, in other embodiments, α, β,and θ can be other values, with α and β always totaling 90 degrees. Insome embodiments, once collapsed, the total vertical height 55 of thestand 10, measured from the mounting surface 16 to a plane 57 parallelto the mounting surface 16 and intersecting a vertically topmost point59 of the stand 10 while collapsed, is approximately 13.5 inches. Inother embodiments, the height 55 is less than 13.5 inches.

Alternatively, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the mast 18 andsupport bracket 26 are movable to an alternative collapsed configurationin which at least one of the mast 18 or the support bracket 26 issubstantially parallel with the base 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG.5B, as the mast 18 pivots about pivot joint 34 away from support bracket26, the support bracket 26 also pivots about the pivot joint 54 whilethe clamping arms 42 slide along the rails 46 of the mast 18 toward thepivot joint 34. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the mast 18 issubstantially parallel with the base 14. Because the support bracket 26includes one or more bolts 56 extending therethrough (FIG. 4), the base14 includes one or more recesses (not shown) to accommodate the one ormore bolts 56 when the support bracket 26 has been moved to thecollapsed configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the base 14 includes a wear plate 58 having anelongated slot 62 through which a mounting bolt (not shown) may beinserted to secure the base 14 to the mounting surface 16 by, forexample, setting the mounting bolt through the wear plate 58 and into abore created in the mounting surface 16. The base 14 also includes aplurality of eyelet screws 66 that may be threadably adjusted withrespect to the base 14 in order to vertically adjust respective feet 70attached to the screws 66 with respect to the base 14. In theillustrated embodiment there are four screws 66 at four corners of thebase 14, but in other embodiments there may be more or fewer screws 66,and the screws may be in different locations on the base 14. Theoperator may adjust the height and orientation of the base 14 withrespect to the mounting surface 16 by adjusting one or more of thescrews 32 with respect to the base 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the mast 18also includes a bubble level 74 and the base 14 includes a bullseyelevel 76. Thus, if an operator mounts the base 14 to a vertical mountingsurface 16, the bubble level 74 can help an operator level the mast 18and ensure it is parallel to the ground surface. Similarly, if anoperator mounts the base 14 to a horizontal mounting surface 16, thebullseye level 76 can help an operator level the base 14 and ensure itis parallel to the ground surface.

As shown in FIG. 6, a bottom side 82 of the base 14 includes a first,outer gasket 86 and a second, inner gasket 90. The inner gasket 90 isarranged inside the outer gasket 86 and outside the slot 62, such that avacuum chamber 94 is defined between the first gasket 86, the secondgasket 90, the bottom side 82 of the base 14, and the mounting surface16 when the base 14 is on the mounting surface 16. The base 14 includesa quick release valve 98 (FIGS. 1-6) and a vacuum port 102 (FIG. 1). Thevacuum port 102 extends from a top side 106 of the base 14 to the vacuumchamber 94. The quick release valve 98 extends from a side wall 108 ofthe base 14 to the vacuum chamber 94. Thus, when the first and secondgaskets 86, 90 are engaged against the mounting surface 16, the operatormay attach a vacuum source to the vacuum port 102 on the top side 106 ofthe base 14, and operate the suction source to create a vacuum in thevacuum chamber 94. In this manner, the vacuum in the vacuum chamber 94secures the base 14 to the mounting surface 16. When the operatordesires to remove the base 14 from the mounting surface 16, the operatorcan actuate the quick release valve 98, causing ambient air atatmospheric pressure to enter the vacuum chamber 94, which breaks thevacuum and allows the operator to remove the base 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the carriage 22 includes an annular collar 110for securing the core drill 36. The collar 110 includes a fixed end 111and a moveable end 112. A gap 113 is defined between the two ends 111,112. A handle 114 is arranged on and rotatable with respect to the fixedend 111. A fastener 115 (FIG. 6) is coupled for rotation with the handle114 and extends through and is rotatable with respect to the ends 111,112. When the handle 114 is rotated in a tightening direction, thefastener 115 rotates in a direction towards the carriage 22, forcing themoving end 112 closer to the fixed end 111, reducing the gap 113 andthereby securing the core drill 36. When the handle 114 is rotated in anopposite, loosening direction, the fastener 115 rotates away from thecarriage 22, allowing the moving end 112 to deflect away from the fixedend 11, increasing the size of the gap 113 and thereby allowing the coredrill 36 to be removed from the collar 110. The collar 110 can bealternatively tightened and loosed by rotating a handle 114, thusallowing an operator to selectively secure (FIG. 1) and remove (FIGS.2-5) the core drill 36 from the collar 110.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the carriage 22 includes a spindle assembly118 for moveably adjusting the carriage 22 along the mast 18, and ahandle assembly 122 for driving the spindle assembly 118. The spindleassembly 118 includes a pinion 126 that is drivingly engaged with a rack130 included on the mast 18. As described in further detail below, thehandle assembly 122 is removably coupled to either end of the spindleassembly 118 without the use of tools. The handle assembly 122 can beinterchangeably coupled to the spindle assembly 118 on either a firstside 134 of the carriage 22 or an opposite second side 138 of thecarriage 22. In this manner, an operator may attach the handle assembly122 select to either one of the sides 134, 138, depending on userpreference or work environment constraints. With reference to FIGS. 1-3,7 and 8, the handle assembly 122 is shown positioned on the second side138 of the carriage 22. However, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a secondinstance of the handle assembly 122 is shown in phantom on the firstside 134 of the carriage 22 to illustrate its alternative position.

With continued reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the spindle assembly 118includes a first spindle 142 proximate to and accessible from the firstside 134 of the carriage 22 and a second spindle 146 proximate to andaccessible from the second side 138 of the carriage 22. The spindleassembly 118 includes a first bushing 150 positioned around the firstspindle 142 and a second bushing 154 positioned around the secondspindle 146. The bushings 150, 154 rotatably support the spindles 142,146, respectively, and are interference fit to the carriage 22,preventing the bushings 150, 154 themselves from rotating. The secondspindle 146 includes a threaded shank 158 received within a threadedbore 162 in the first spindle 142 to thereby unitize the spindles 142,146 for co-rotation. Alternatively, the spindles 142, 146 may benon-rotatably and axially coupled in different manners. The secondspindle 146 also includes a cylindrical portion 166 upon which thepinion 126 is press fit. Thus, the pinion 126 co-rotates with the secondspindle 146 in response to a torque input to either of the spindles 142,146 via the handle assembly 122, causing the carriage 22 to move up anddown the mast 18.

The spindle assembly 118 also includes a brake mechanism 168 thatprevents the spindles 142, 146 and pinion 126 from rotating when theoperator is not holding the handle assembly 122. A plurality of washers170 are positioned around the cylindrical portion 166 between the firstspindle 142 and the pinion 126. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8, the brake mechanism 168 comprises one or more Belleville washersamongst the plurality of watchers 170 and a bushing 172 fixed withincarriage 22. The one or more Belleville washers exert a predeterminedaxial preload force on the pinion 126 in a direction away from bushing172, such that the second spindle 146 is likewise biased in the samedirection. Because the first spindle 142 is threadably coupled to thesecond spindle 146 via the threaded shank 158 within the threaded bore162, the first spindle 142 is pulled by the second spindle 146 againstthe bushing 172, creating friction therebetween.

The friction between the first spindle 142 and the bushing 172 issufficiently high to prevent to prevent the spindles 142, 146 fromrotating due to the weight of the carriage 22 or core drill 36 pullingdown on the carriage 22 and pinion 126 when the operator is not holdingthe handle assembly 122 or carriage 22. However, the friction betweenthe first spindle 142 and the bushing 172 is sufficiently low that whenan operator applies torque to the spindles 142, 146 via the handleassembly 122, the first spindle 142 is able to rotate relative to thebushing 172, along with the second spindle 146 and pinion 126. Thus, thebrake mechanism 168 prevents the carriage 22 from moving downward alongthe mast 18 due to the force of gravity absent the operator applying aforce via the handle assembly 122, but permits the operator 22 to movethe carriage 22 along the mast 18 by rotating the handle assembly 122,as described in further detail below.

The first spindle 142 defines a first non-cylindrical drive socket 174(FIG. 8) accessible from the first side 134 of the main carriage 22 andthe second spindle 146 defines a second non-cylindrical drive socket 178(FIGS. 7 and 8) accessible from the second side 138 of the carriage 22.The drive sockets 174, 178 are each operable to receive acorresponding-shaped drive member 182 of the handle assembly 122. In theillustrated embodiment of the drill stand 10, the drive sockets 174, 178and the drive member 182 each have a corresponding squarecross-sectional shape. Alternatively, the drive sockets 174, 178 and thedrive member 182 may be configured having different correspondingnon-cylindrical shapes.

The handle assembly 122 also includes a handle hub 186 from which thedrive member 182 extends and two levers 190 extending from oppositesides of the handle hub 186. The handle assembly 122 further includesquick-release mechanism 194 for selectively locking the handle assembly122 to the spindle assembly 118. In the illustrated embodiment, thequick-release mechanism 194 includes a ball detent 198 in one of thefaces of the drive member 182 and a plunger 202 coaxial with the hub 186and drive member 182 for biasing the ball detent 198 toward a positionin which at least a portion of the ball detent 198 protrudes from theface of the drive member 182 in which it is located (i.e., an extendedposition).

In the illustrated embodiment, the plunger 202 is coupled for axialmovement with a release actuator 204 arranged on handle hub 186. Therelease actuator 204 defines a slot 206 through which an extension 208coupling the two levers 190 extends. The release actuator 204 is biasedaway from the drive member 182 by a spring 210, which is set between thedrive member 182 and release actutator 204. The slot 206 is long enoughto permit the release actuator 204 to move within the handle hub 186between an outwardly-biased position and an inwardly-depressed position,against the force of spring 210.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the plunger 202 includes a notch 212. Whenthe release actuator 204, and therefore the plunger 202, are depressedinwardly by an operator, the plunger 202 moves towards the ball detent198, thus allowing the ball detent 198 to be received into the notch212. When the release actuator 204 and the plunger 202 are allowed toreturn to their outwardly-biased positions by the spring 210, a rampsurface 214 on the plunger 202 adjacent the slot 212 displaces the balldetent 198 radially outward, causing a portion of the ball detent 198 toprotrude from the drive member 182 and engage a corresponding detentrecess 218 in the drive sockets 174, 178 (FIGS. 7 and 8), therebyaxially retaining the handle assembly 122 to the spindle assembly 118.

In operation, an operator depresses and holds the release actuator 204and while holding the release actuator 204, the operator couples thehandle assembly 122 to the spindle assembly 118 by inserting the squaredrive 182 into either the first drive socket 174 or the second drivesocket 178. Once inserted, the operator releases the release actuator204, which causes the ramp surface 214 to force the ball detent 198 intothe detent recess 218 of the first drive socket 174 or second drivesocket 178, thereby axially retaining the handle assembly 122 to thespindle assembly 118. The operator then rotates the handle assembly 122to reposition the carriage 22 with respect to the mast 18. To remove thehandle assembly 122 for storage or for repositioning to the other sideof the carriage 22, the operator depresses the release actuator 204against the bias of the spring 206, moving the plunger 202 into aposition in which the ball detent is received into the notch 212. Withthe ball detent 198 in the notch 212, no portion of the ball detent 198protrudes from the drive member 182 for engaging the detent recesses218, thereby permitting removal of the handle assembly 122 from eitherthe first drive socket 174 or the second drive socket 178. To reattachthe handle assembly 122 to either side of the spindle assembly 118, theoperator needs only to push the drive member 182 into one of the drivesockets 174, 178.

Interference between the ball detent 198 and the drive sockets 174, 178displaces the ball detent 198 inward. A component of the ball detent 198displacement is redirected axially by the ramp surface 214, against thebias of the spring 206, causing the plunger 202 to automatically retractinto the hub 186 during insertion of the drive member 182 into one ofthe drive sockets 174, 178. Upon receipt of the ball detent 198 into oneof the detent recesses 218 in the drive sockets 174, 178, the handleassembly 122 is again locked to the spindle assembly 118.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the mast 18 defines grooves 216 that areparallel to the longitudinal axis 30 and arranged on opposite sides ofthe mast 18. In the illustrated embodiment the mast 18 includes twogrooves 216 but in other embodiments the mast 18 may include more orfewer grooves 216. The carriage 22 includes rollers 220 arranged in thegrooves 216. In the illustrated embodiment, the carriage 22 includesfour rollers 220, but in other embodiments, the carriage 22 may includemore or fewer rollers 220. In response to the carriage 22 movingrelative to the mast 18 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis30, as described above, the rollers roll along the grooves 216, thusfacilitating smooth translation of the carriage 22 along the mast 18.

Because the grooves 216 extend all the way to a top 236 of the mast 18,the carriage 22 is removable from the mast 18 in a direction parallel tothe longitudinal axis 30 in a tool-free manner. Specifically, anoperator may simply slide the carriage 22 off the top of the mast 18(FIG. 4), because nothing at the top 236 of the mast 18 blocks orotherwise prevents the rollers 220 from rolling off the grooves 216 orthe pinion 126 from disengaging the rack 130. The capability to removethe carriage 22 from the mast 18 in a tool-free manner simplifiesdisassembly and removal of the drill stand 10 from the work site. Inother embodiments, the carriage 22 may be removable from the mast 18 ina direction transverse to the longitudinal axis 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the drill stand 10 includes a battery mount 240that selectively receives a battery 244 (FIG. 1) that can power the coredrill 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery mount 240 isattached to the mast 18 within a space bounded by the mast 18, thesupport bracket 26, and the base 14. Therefore, the battery 244 ispositioned within this same space when not in use. In other embodiments(not shown), the battery mount 240 may be arranged on the supportbracket 26 but within the same space bounded by the mast 18, the supportbracket 26, and the base 14 to provide protection for the battery 244.As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the battery mount 240 is a bracket with aC-shaped cross section that receives a mating portion of the battery244. Because the drill stand 10 includes the battery mount 240 for thebattery 244, the operator can always have a spare (charged) battery 244ready for the core drill 26 in case the battery 244 on the core drill 26requires recharging.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drill stand comprising: a base; a mast defininga longitudinal axis and pivotably coupled to the base; a support bracketmoveably coupled to the mast and pivotably coupled to the base; and acarriage moveably coupled to the mast, wherein the carriage isconfigured to selectively receive a drill and is selectively removablefrom the mast in a tool-free manner.
 2. The drill stand of claim 1,wherein the carriage is removable from the mast in a direction parallelto the longitudinal axis.
 3. The drill stand of claim 2, wherein themast defines a groove in a direction parallel with the longitudinalaxis, wherein the carriage includes a roller arranged in the groove, andwherein the roller rolls along the groove in response to the carriagemoving relative to the mast in a direction parallel with thelongitudinal axis.
 4. The drill stand of claim 1, wherein the mast andsupport bracket are collapsible relative to the base.
 5. The drill standof claim 4, wherein the mast and support bracket are movable to acollapsed configuration in which at least one of the mast or the supportbracket is substantially parallel with the base.
 6. The drill stand ofclaim 5, wherein one of the mast or the support bracket includes a bolt,and wherein the base includes a recess configured to receive the boltwhen the mast and the support bracket are moved to the collapsedconfiguration.
 7. The drill stand of claim 1, wherein the base includes,on a bottom side thereof, a first gasket and a second gasket disposedwithin the first gasket, such that a vacuum chamber is defined betweenthe first gasket, the second gasket, the bottom side of the base, and amounting surface on which the base is configured to be mounted, andwherein a port is arranged on the underside of the base in fluidcommunication with the vacuum chamber, the port configured to be coupledto a vacuum source such that a vacuum may be created in the vacuumchamber when the first gasket and second gasket are engaged with themounting surface.
 8. The drill stand of claim 7, wherein the baseincludes a valve in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber, andwherein ambient air at atmospheric pressure is permitted to enter thevacuum chamber in response to actuation of the valve.
 9. The drill standof claim 1, wherein the base includes a plurality of screws moveablerelative to the base to adjust the height and orientation of the basewith respect to a mounting surface on which the base is configured to bemounted.
 10. The drill stand of claim 9, wherein the mast includes abubble level for indicating the orientation of the mast relative to themounting surface.
 11. The drill stand of claim 1, wherein the baseincludes a handle, and wherein the support bracket is configured to belocked with respect to the base and the mast, such that an operator maycarry the drill stand with the handle and/or the support bracket. 12.The drill stand of claim 1, wherein the base includes a pair of handleslocated on opposite sides of the base.
 13. The drill stand of claim 1,wherein the mast includes a rack, wherein the carriage includes a pinionengaged with and moveable along the rack and a handle which, whenrotated, applies torque to the pinion causing it to rotate and movealong the rack, causing the carriage to move relative to the mast. 14.The drill stand of claim 13, further comprising a brake mechanismconfigured to prevent the pinion from moving along the rack absent anexternal force applied to the handle.
 15. The drill stand of claim 14,wherein the brake mechanism comprises a spindle coupled for co-rotationwith the handle, a bushing fixed on the carriage, and a biasing memberthat biases the spindle against the bushing with a predetermined force.16. The drill stand of claim 14, wherein the pinion is press fit to aspindle that rotates in response to rotation of the handle, such that inresponse to rotation of the handle, the pinion rotates and moves alongthe rack.